Toy bomber



Sept. 27, 1949. H F WHEELER `2,483,164:

TOY BOMBER Filed Nov. 20, 1944 INVENTOR. H F WHEELER BY GMM/L YYLQWL) ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 27,v 1949 Henry F. Vifilheelerg v'Itichmoml Heights, Mo., asf signor of one-half toA. Edward Gross,vl t1ch mond Heights, Mo.

. Application November 20, 1944, Serial No. 564,227

V2 clahns.

This. invention relates to toy` bombers wherein objects which may be regardedv as bombs are dropped from a suitable holder. In the preferred form of. the invention, the toy bombsarein the form of darts having pointed lower ends to be anchored in a` target. However, other types, of toy bombs may be employed in the new device.

An object of thetinventionvis tov produce avery simple and inexpensive means for anchoring and releasing the toy bombs.

Another object is tocreate extremely simple aiming conditions which enable the operator to exercise. skill in aimingthe bombs to a target. Separate and distinct details of this object include a simple sighting` device to be adjusted in aiming at the target, andV special conditions in releasing the toy bombs.

Withthe foregoing and other objects. injview, thev invention comprisesthe specific combination andi arrangement, of details herein shown and described toset forth one formv orythe invention. However, it is to be understood that the scope of this patent extends to variations and modifications described by the terms of'claims hereunto appended. Y

Fig. 1 is a top view of a toy bomber embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing a magazine and toy bombs to be dropped therefrom.

Fig. 4 is asection on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of one of the toy bombs.

The general appearanceof the toy may have any desired formation. The drawings show an airplane A provided with a magazine B open at the bottom to receive toy bombs C. As a handle for this toy bomber, I have *shownY a horizontal rod 6 extending rearwardly from the plane A and an elongated hand-receiving member 'l extending downwardly from said rod 6. The handle member 1 can be very readily grasped to firmly hold the toy during the successive steps of inserting, aiming and releasing the bombs, as will be hereinafter described.

The magazine B includes a top wall 8, end walls 9 and side walls I0, suitably anchored to the body of the plane A, said magazine being open at the bottom as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Any desired number of bombs may be detachably secured at the magazine, and this magazine may be of any desired shape. However, it preferably includes a suspension member to connect said bombs to the magazine. For example, a suspension member ll may extend through the bombs, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. More specifically v stated, this suspensionmembenmay be 2 f the form of a simple horizontal wire4 l!- slidable in guides l2l and I3., which extend downwardlyifrom the bottom of the planeA.

Detailsof the suspension devicemay include an operating 4member ifi.; extending-downwardly from the horizontal portion of thewire it to re.,- ceive iingers oi; the operatorvin impartingiongitudinal movement to.Y said` wire H1,- andga. stop member l5'extending,fromf the .rear-endpi said wire. Study of Fig. 2fwill, shQW that-thexed guide lwill cooperatewith the extended members le and foto limit'thelongitudinal. movementsof thesuspensionmember Il.A Y

Attention is directedto;` an end 16er theuspension'member shownAi-niFigures 2. and. end it is movable in lone direction to receive` and anchor the bombs, and-movablein-the opposite direction to successively releasethe-bombs.

Eah bom-b @is Vor@fei'ally;'in theiorm Oiiadart having a relatively heavy body member il,` a pointed member I8 extending downwardly from said body member to be anchored in a target, and vertical ns I9 extending upwardly from said heavy body member I1. The lower end portions of the fins I9 are attached to said body member I'Lrand these fins are united at the axis ofthe dart. However, said ns are separated from the top central portion of the heavy body member l1 to provide a central opening 20 for the suspension memberrll, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Consequently, when the endY i6 of the suspension member 4passes from an approximately central Opening 20, the dart will be released in an approximately vertical condition, without undue tilting at the moment of release. This detail is desirable for reasonably accurate aiming Vconditions.

The simple aiming device herein shown comprises a graduated sight indicator 2| fixed to the rod 6, a pivoted sight carrier 22, and a pair of sights 23 extending from said carrier, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the inclined sighting member 22 is pivoted at a point in front of the handle 1, so as to provide for inspection and free selective pivotal adjustments of said inclined member 22 relative to the indicator 2| when the toy is grasped by said handle. The sighting device is conveniently located between the rear of the plane and the handle l, so the operator can readily use one hand to nrmly support the device, while using fingers of the other hand to adjust the sights and release the bombs. This detail provides for aiming at a target at a known distance below the toy, and

leads to interesting adjustments when the device is operated by only one person, or when several are engaged in a contest.

In releasing the bombs, the suspension member II is pulled to the right from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. During an initial stage of this movement, all of the loosely supported bombs may movelaterally with said suspension member. However, the bomb at the extreme right in Fig. 3 will contact with a member 9 which serves as a Stop, or abutment, to stop said bomb, and as the longitudinal movement of the suspension member is continued, the loose bombs will be crowded into contact with each other. Thisaction is followed by successive release of the bombs when'the free end I6 of the traveling suspension member passes from said bombs.

The ns I9 provide Vertical guiding faces converging toward the centra1 openings 29 which receive the suspension lmember II, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Consequently, the free end I6 of said suspension member can be readily nserted through the relatively large transverse openings ZIJ. During this operation, the toy is usually held in an inverted position so as to locate the upper ends of the ns I9 in contact with the wall 8 which lies adjacent to the bombs. words, when the device is inverted, a bomb can be very quickly attached by merely locating its fins I9 in Contact with the wall 8, and then inserting the suspension rod I I between anyY converging faces of thens I9. It may be important to observe that the top wall 8 of the magazine is parallel with the extended end portion of the slidable suspension member II. Consequently, when the toy is inverted, this parallel top wall 8 forms a seat onto which the bombs are placed in inverted positions, thereby locating their transverse openings 20 in the plane of the suspension member II which is to be inserted throughsaid openings.

In other I claim:

1. A toy bomber comprising a, magazine open at the bottom, a plurality of toy bombs to be dropped from said magazine, each of said bombs having a transverse opening, and a slidable suspension member having an extended end portion movable into and out of the transverse openings to receive and release the toy bombs, said magazine having a top wall parallel with said extended end portion, said parallel top wall being adjacent to the upper ends of the toy bombs in the magazine, so asrto form a seat for said ends when the toy is inverted, thereby locating said transverse openings in the plane of said extended end portion of the slidable suspension member.

2. A toy bomber comprising a, support, a plurality of toy bombs to be dropped from said support, each of said toy bombs having a body member and ns extending upwardly therefrom, said ns being separated from the central top portion of said body member to form a central opening between said ns and body member, and a suspension member having an extended end portion movable into and out of the central openings to receive and release the bombs, said ns being provided with vertical side faces converging toward the central openings to direct said extended end portion into said central openings.

HENRY F. WHEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Burkhard June 1l, 1935 

